As board president of JCRB|AJC, the question I have heard most often in recent months is a simple one: “What can I do?”
It comes from parents worried about what their children are hearing in school. From college students navigating difficult campus environments. From Jewish community members wondering how to respond to rhetoric that once felt unthinkable in American public life. And from allies who want to help but are unsure where to begin.
It is an understandable question. Antisemitism today can feel sprawling and disorienting. It appears across the political spectrum. It shows up online, in social spaces, in schools and sometimes in our own neighborhoods. Many people want to respond but feel uncertain about what meaningful action actually looks like.
The good news is that combating antisemitism is not reserved for experts, institutions or public officials. There are tangible things ordinary people can do right now that matter deeply.
First: build Jewish literacy and historical understanding. Antisemitism thrives where ignorance exists. Learn about Jewish history. Understand how antisemitism evolves and adapts over time. Familiarize yourself with the stereotypes, conspiracy theories and coded language that often precede more overt expressions of hate. Education is not passive; it equips people to recognize problems before they escalate.
Second: speak up consistently, even in small moments. Many incidents of antisemitism do not occur in headline-making ways. They happen in casual conversations, online comments, social settings or workplaces where harmful rhetoric goes unchallenged because people feel uncomfortable intervening. Silence can normalize what should never become normal. A calm, thoughtful response from a trusted friend or colleague often carries more weight than people realize.
Third: strengthen relationships outside the Jewish community. Antisemitism becomes more dangerous when communities become isolated from one another. One of the most effective long-term responses is sustained civic and interfaith connection. Attend events outside your own circles. Build authentic relationships with neighbors of different backgrounds. Show up for others consistently, not only when crisis arises. Trust built over time creates resilience when tensions rise.
Fourth: support institutions doing this work every day. Organizations like JCRB|AJC monitor trends, engage civic leaders, provide education and resources, respond to incidents and maintain relationships across communities. But they cannot do this work alone. Community engagement, volunteerism and financial support all help sustain the infrastructure needed to respond effectively.
And finally: remain visibly and confidently Jewish.
At moments of rising antisemitism, there can be a temptation to retreat — to make ourselves smaller, quieter, less noticeable. But Jewish continuity has always depended on the opposite: gathering together, celebrating openly, educating proudly and refusing to allow fear to define Jewish life.
There is no single action that will solve antisemitism. No perfect statement, policy or organization can eliminate it entirely. But the question “What can I do?” still matters, because collective action is built from individual choices repeated consistently over time.
The answer begins with this: stay informed, stay connected, speak up, support one another and remain engaged. Antisemitism is fought not only in moments of crisis, but through the daily work of building strong, resilient, connected communities.